The Irish Street Arts, Circus and Spectacle Network (ISACS) has partnered with The Irish Showmen’s Guild, the University of Galway and Archives Ireland to create a new digital oral history archive preserving the lives, memories and legacy of Irish show people involved in variety, fit ups, travelling cinemas, fairgrounds, circus, sideshows and more.

Director of ISACS Network, Lucy Medlycott said: “Working together with the Irish Showmen’s Guild and University of Galway Library towards preserving and recording the history and legacy of the Showmen’s community for future generations has been an absolute honour and a privilege. Through doing this project we are aiming to gather and share the knowledge across generations and between communities highlighting the pioneering work that the Showmen have delivered within the Irish arts world for over two centuries.”

Having been awarded funding through the Heritage Council of Ireland; ‘Voices of the Showmen’, was launched at University of Galway Library as part of National Heritage Week 2025.

“The lives and craft of the Irish show people are an integral part of our national culture and history. By recording and preserving these oral histories of the families and artists who have made this their life’s work, we are sharing a rich and important heritage for the future.” said Dr. Barry Houlihan, Archivist.

Harry McFadden and Marion Daniels King, both of whom were brought up in families with personal experience of managing travelling shows across Ireland for generations joined in a public conversation with Barry Houlihan, Archivist. To say that the audience were transported is an understatement. The stories and memories that came tumbling forth really reminded us of a different time and place which took us right back to a time before the arrival of electricity.

The arts and entertainment bore a different social relevance for communities, with many nostalgic and evocative images of tilly lamps, horse drawn carriages and parish halls featuring strongly. Our emotions ran high as memories of places and people since passed on came flooding back.

The event was attended by people from Newry to Tramore and everywhere in between. Many of those in attendance grew up in show families – working the fairs, presenting the circus, running the travelling cinemas, performing in the varieties, fit ups and more. Some individuals arrived in search of lost family roots and some to discover and uncover this very unique community. Among the tears, hugs and laughter, old connections were rekindled and new ones formed. There were standing ovations in recognition of the dedication of Queenie McCormick, Tom Duffy’s Circus, Harry McFadden and Marion Daniels King, with formal presentations from the Irish Showman’s Guild to these outstanding pioneers of the show community. On this occasion a commemorative plaque acknowledging the work of the Irish Showman’s Guild was presented to Chris Piper as Vice Chairman of ISG. The enormous passion, love and respect between all present was undeniable.

David Duffy, Executive member, Irish Showmen’s Guild: “On behalf of the Irish Showmen’s Guild, we are delighted and honoured to be at Galway University in what we hope is the first steps in documenting Irish Show people’s history and contribution to entertaining Irish families for centuries and their role in Irish heritage, culture & social history.”

The memory of the day will live on and we look forward to exploring the next steps forward towards the realisation of this project.

Listen back to Liveline RTE Radio 1 with Dr. Barry Houlihan, Harry McFadden and Marion Daniels King who speak more about the archive and thier personal stories.  here
If you wish to get involved, please contact Lucy Medlycott: director@isacs.ie for more information.

This project was funded by the Heritage Council of Ireland and delivered in partnership with the Irish Street Arts, Circus & Spectacle Network, the Irish Showman’s Guild, Archives Ireland and the University of Galway.

Photography by Clare Sheehan and Andrew Downes